The Portland Trail Blazers took full advantage of the depleted New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night, winning 119-100 at the Smoothie King Center.
The Blazers dominated from the start, winning the first quarter 40-24 and then building a 75-42 halftime lead. Their 75 first-half points and 68.9% shooting were season highs.
“Obviously, the offense in the first half stands out,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters. “But to me, it was the defense that got us going.”
The Pelicans won the third quarter 34-23 but were never a threat to come back in this one.
Forward Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting. Shaedon Sharpe shot 8 of 13 for 21 points and Anfernee Simons added 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
All told, the Blazers shot 54.5% from the field (third highest this season) while producing 62 points in the paint compared to 44 for the Pelicans.
New Orleans saw their season derailed early when injuries began to mount.
Forward Zion Williamson, who missed 30 games with a hamstring injury, returned to the court during Tuesday’s loss at Minnesota but did not play against the Blazers. Forward Bandon Ingram (ankle sprain), who has missed 20 games, and guard Trey Murphy III (ankle sprain), who has missed 15 games, were also unavailable.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) goes to the basket between New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray, left, and center Yves Missi in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) APAP
That left CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murry to carry the offensive burden for the Pelicans, and they had not shot against the Blazers.
McCollum scored 23, while Murray added 20. They shot 18 of 31 from the field (58.1%). The rest of the team shot 22 of 59 (37.3%).
Billups said his only concern at halftime was that his team would become complacent with such a large lead.
“You have to fend off a letdown in the second half,” Billups said. “So, that’s always very tough.”
The Pelicans forced the action in the third quarter, but the Blazers pushed back enough to avoid allowing New Orleans to get back into the game.
WHAT IT MEANS
The Blazers (13-23) moved to 2-2 on their trip and won their season series with the Pelicans 3-1. New Orleans (7-31) is last in the Western Conference.
This is just the fourth time the Blazers have held an opponent to 100 points or less this season. The team’s 119 points ranks seventh highest. The margin of victory ranks first. The previous high came when the Blazers won 122-108 over Minnesota at home on Nov. 12
CLINGAN OUT, WILLIAMS IN
Rookie center Donovan Clingan sat out to rest, but backup center Robert Williams III played after missing three games. He saw 16 minutes of action, scoring four points with six rebounds.
“He’s just a difference maker,” Billups said. “He really is. His feel for the game, his instincts are at a high, high, high level. His IQ is at a high, high, high level.”
NEXT UP
The Blazers play a 5 p.m. game Thursday at the Dallas Mavericks.
— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)
